Docking station

ABSTRACT

A docking station for a fluid cell is disclosed. The docking station includes at least one first connection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell and at least one second connection for fluid exchange with a fluid reservoir. A pump is provided for conveying a fluid. A control device is provided for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one first connection and the at least one second connection. An electrical connection is provided for a power supply of at least one of the control device and the pump.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Application No. DE 10 2021203 830.1 filed on Apr. 19, 2021, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a docking station for a fluid cell.Apart from this, the invention relates to an assembly for an internalcombustion engine having such a docking station and to a vehicle, forexample, a motor vehicle or a riding lawn mower having such an assembly.

BACKGROUND

Filter systems for fluid cells, in particular oil filter systems for oilchange cells of internal combustion engines have been known for sometime. Typically, such a filter system is of modular design and includesa fluid cell, in which the filter device for filtering the fluidconcerned—typically a filter element with a suitable filter medium—isarranged. Apart from this, conventional fluid cells contain an oilreservoir, in which oil for the internal combustion engine can bestored. The fluid cell with the filter device and with the oil reservoircan be mounted to a counterpart arranged on an internal combustionengine, also known to the relevant person skilled in the art by the term“docking station”.

Here it often proves to be problematic that prior to mounting the fluidcell to the docking station, no oil must leak out from the oil reservoiror the filter device of the fluid cell into the external environment ofthe fluid cell. The same applies after the removal of the fluid cellfrom the docking station. Conversely it is absolutely necessary thatwith the fluid cell mounted to the docking station a fluid connection ofboth the filter device and also the oil reservoir with the dockingstation and thus—via the same—with the internal combustion engine isensured.

The installation space, which is typically available only to a limitedextent for such a fluid cell in a motor vehicle, proves to beadditionally problematic. When searching for a solution to the problemexplained above concerning oil leaking out of the fluid cell into theenvironment that has to be prevented, it must therefore also be takeninto account that such a solution should preferably have no negativeeffect on the additionally required installation space.

The present invention therefore deals with the problem of stating adocking station for a fluid cell, with which the disadvantages knownfrom the prior art can be overcome.

According to the invention, this problem is solved through the subjectof the independent claim(s). Advantageous embodiments are subject of thedependent claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention is based on the general idea of stating a dockingstation for a fluid cell, in which all connections or installationsrequired for a quick and safe exchange of the fluid cell are integrated.Here, the docking station for a fluid cell according to the inventionhas first connections for the fluid exchange with the fluid cell, atleast a second connection for the fluid exchange with a first fluidreservoir, a pump for conveying the fluid, a control device forcontrolling the pump and/or at least one valve device on the firstand/or second connection as well as an electrical connection for thepower supply of the control device and/or of the pump. With the dockingstation according to the invention it is thus comparatively easilypossible to exchange the fluid cell in that for example by way of thecontrol device a suitable programme or a suitable routine is selected,by way of which the fluid cell is emptied and the fluid present thereinpumped out into the first fluid reservoir, for example an oil pan.Following this, the fluid cell can be removed from a recess of thedocking station without there being the risk that any fluid stillpresent in the fluid cell undesirably leaks into the environment. Themounting of the fluid cell can also take place analogously so that thesame, after an exchange, is inserted into the recess on the dockingstation, upon which, by way of a corresponding command input via thecontrol device, a pumping of fluid out of the first fluid reservoir intothe fluid cell takes place. By way of the control device it is alsopossible for example to open or close valve devices coupled to the saidcontrol device, so that for example upon an exchange of the fluid celland following an emptying of the same, a valve device arranged on thefirst connections can be closed, as a result of which, even when thepump is actuated, an undesirable leakage of fluid can be reliablyprevented. At the same time, an undesirable entry for example of dirtvia the first connections into the docking station can also be preventedby such a closed valve device.

In an advantageous further development of the docking station accordingto the invention, the fluid cell comprises a filter element forfiltering the fluid and is formed for example as a filter cartridge.Another term for such a filter cartridge is for example a spin-onfilter. In this case, an emptying of the fluid cell comprising thefilter element can take place by suitably actuating the control deviceso that the fluid cell for a filter exchange can subsequently be simplydisassembled, for example unscrewed from the docking station. Thus, thedocking station according to the invention thus makes possible a simple,quick exchange of the fluid cell or of the filter element reducing therisk of an undesirable leakage of fluid.

In an advantageous further development of the solution according to theinvention, the docking station comprises at least one third connectionfor the fluid exchange with a further component, for example an oilfilter on an internal combustion engine. In this case, the fluid cellitself can comprise a filter element and/or a second fluid reservoir,wherein via the at least one third connection a fluid supply of thefurther component, for example of the oil filter arranged on theinternal combustion engine, is made possible. By way of the controldevice, the valve devices or the pump in the docking station can beactivated so that for example an emptying of the component arranged onthe internal combustion engine, for example an oil filter arrangedthere, takes place so that the same can likewise be easily exchanged.

Practically, the fluid cell comprises a second fluid reservoir. By wayof such a second fluid reservoir it is possible for example to collectthe fluid during the exchange of the fluid cell in the second fluidreservoir of the same, as a result of which a removal of the fluid cellincluding the fluid arranged therein, for example oil, is made possible.Here, the pump can at least partly pump the oil or the fluid out of thefirst fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan, into the fluid cell andsubsequently close the valve devices so that the fluid cell can beremoved easily and without dripping. Here it can also be provided thatthe valve device of the fluid cell is not actuated by the control devicebut for example by way of a suitable mechanism during the unscrewing orremoving of the fluid cell from the docking station. Here, the secondfluid reservoir in the fluid cell offers the major advantage that adraining of the fluid via for example a drain screw in the first fluidreservoir and accompanied by this a collecting of the fluid required inthe past are omitted. With the docking station according to theinvention and the fluid cell according to the invention a fluid exchangecan thus be implemented comparatively easily.

Practically, the fluid is oil and the first fluid reservoir an oil pan.Particularly in the case of riding lawn mowers with comparatively smalloil volumes a scheduled exchange of the oil is not without problem sincethe same usually takes place in the private area and therefore oftenwithout the safety precautions required for this purpose. In particularin the case of such vehicles, such as for example such a riding lawnmower, the docking station according to the invention can demonstrateits great advantages since for exchanging the oil merely the controldevice has to be suitably actuated upon which the pump pumps oil out ofthe oil pan into the fluid cell and upon which the same can besubsequently removed and exchanged. A separate oil drain for example viaan oil drain screw on the oil pan is thus superfluous, as a result ofwhich the risk of an oil contamination can be clearly reduced.

In an advantageous further development of the docking station accordingto the invention, the control device comprises at least two buttons/keysfor activating a respective routine/programme. A user can thus beprovided with a comparatively simple work routine by way of an inputdevice, which purely theoretically can also comprise a touchpad, sincefor example for an oil change, in a corresponding manual or a display ofthe control device, it is merely stated that for example a key A has tobe pressed. When the user presses this key A conveying of fluid by thepump out of the oil pan into the second fluid reservoir of the fluidcell takes place, in which for example a filter element is additionallyarranged, so that following the conclusion of the pumping operation thefluid cell including used-up filter element and oil collected in thesecond fluid reservoir can be removed and appropriately disposed of.Alternatively it is also conceivable that the user presses a key B, uponwhich for example a conveying of fluid by the pump out of the fluid cellinto the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan, takes place, sothat after the conclusion of the pumping operation, the fluid cellincluding used-up filter element but without oil can be removed andappropriately disposed of.

Practically, a first routine or a first programme is a filling of thefluid cell with fluid out of the first fluid reservoir. Following theunscrewing or placing of a new fluid cell onto the docking station, thefirst routine or the first programme can be activated via acorresponding key or a corresponding button, upon which the pump pumpsfluid, for example oil, out of the first fluid reservoir, for examplethe oil pan, into the fluid cell thereby filling the same. The firstroutine occurs for example in particular when the fluid cell merelycomprises a filter element and merely this filter element has to beexchanged as scheduled. In this case, the oil or generally the fluidremains in the first fluid reservoir, for example the oil pan. By way ofthe second routine, an emptying of the fluid cell and conveying of thefluid into the first fluid reservoir can be realised, so that bypressing a corresponding key or pressing a corresponding button on thecontrol device, the emptying of the fluid cell can take place. Followingthis, the same can be removed, for example unscrewed from the dockingstation.

Obviously, further routines or programmes are also conceivable, inparticular in the case that an exchange of the further component on theinternal combustion engine and thus for example an emptying of the samevia the third connection and the pump is to take place.

Further, the present invention is based on the general idea of statingan assembly for an internal combustion engine having such a dockingstation and a fluid cell that can be connected or is connected to thesame in a fluid-transferring manner. Such an assembly can be arrangedfor example in an oil circuit for the internal combustion engine, as aresult of which both a total oil exchange as well as also merely a fluidcell exchange become comparatively easily possible, in particular evenfor an inexperienced user.

Further, the present invention is based on the general idea of equippinga vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle, a stationary engine, a boatdrive or a riding lawn mower with such an assembly. Particularly ridinglawn mowers are often used in the private area, in which the usual toolssuch as for example oil collection pan, funnel etc. are not availableand because of this there is often a risk of a contamination of theenvironment when exchanging the fluid cell or when exchanging the fluid.In the case of a riding lawn mower having such an assembly according tothe invention, a comparatively simple yet non-dripping exchange of thefluid cell or exchange of the oil can nevertheless be carried out by aninexperienced user.

Further important features and advantages of the invention are obtainedfrom the subclaims, from the drawing and from the associated FIGUREdescription by way of the drawing.

It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and still to beexplained in the following cannot only be used in the respectivecombination stated, but also in other combinations or by themselveswithout leaving the scope of the present invention.

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in thedrawing and is explained in more detail in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The FIGURE shows a docking station according to the invention with afluid cell, combined as assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to the FIGURE, a docking station 1 according to the inventionfor a fluid cell 2 comprises first connections (not shown) for the fluidexchange with the fluid cell 2, at least one second connection 3 for thefluid exchange with a first fluid reservoir 4, for example an oil pan,and a pump 5 for conveying fluid. Likewise provided is a control device6 for controlling the pump 5 and/or for controlling valve devices on theat least one first connection and/or second connection 3. In addition tothis, the docking station 1 according to the invention has an electricalconnection 7 for connection with an energy source, for example a carbattery, and for the power supply of the control device 6 and/or of thepump 5.

With the docking station 1 according to the invention it is possibleeven for inexperienced users, in particular in the private area, toeasily exchange the fluid cell 2 and in particular also without the riskof an undesirable leakage of fluid, wherein in the fluid cell 2 forexample a filter element for filtering the fluid can be provided, and/ora second fluid reservoir, in which fluid, for example oil, can becollected and together with the fluid cell 2 removed from the dockingstation 1 and appropriately disposed of.

The fluid can be for example oil, wherein in this case the first fluidreservoir 4 is an oil pan.

The control device 6 has at least two buttons/keys 8, by way of whichthe control device 6 can be operated and by way of which individualroutines or programmes can be activated. A first routine can be afilling of the fluid cell 2 with fluid out of the first fluid reservoir4, while a second routine can represent an emptying of the fluid cell 2and conveying of the fluid by means of the pump 5 into the first fluidreservoir 4.

If for example the fluid present in the fluid cell 2 or in the firstfluid reservoir 4 is to be removed, the pump 5 can be activated via thecontrol device 6 upon which the same, through suitably positioning thevalve devices not described in more detail, brings about a conveying offluid present in the first fluid reservoir 4 into the second fluidreservoir of the fluid cell 2. Following this, the fluid cell 2including the fluid collected therein in the second fluid reservoir ofthe same can be removed without having to fear contaminating theenvironment in the process. When the fluid cell 2 is formed merely asfilter element for example, a routine/programme can be activated via acorresponding associated key 8 or a corresponding associated button 8,with which the fluid cell 2 is emptied and the fluid contained thereinpumped into the first fluid reservoir 4. Once this has taken place, thefluid cell 2 can likewise be easily removed from the docking station 1.

In addition to this, the docking station 1 can also comprise a thirdconnection 9, via which the docking station 1 is fluidically connectedwith a further component 10, for example with a filter device on aninternal combustion engine that is not shown. By way of the controldevice 6 a corresponding emptying or filling of the further component 10by means of fluid from for example the second fluid reservoir of thefluid cell 2 and/or the first fluid reservoir 4 is also possible.

FIG. 1, further, shows an assembly 11 having such a docking station 1and a fluid cell 2 connected with the same in a fluid-transferringmanner, wherein such an assembly 11 can be installed for example in amotor vehicle 12, a stationary engine, a boat drive or a riding lawnmower 13. In particular riding lawn mowers 13 are often operated in theprivate area, in which an oil change often takes place only withinadequate tools or collection devices and, accompanied by this, alwayswith a contamination risk that should not be underestimated.

However, with the docking station 1 according to the invention or theassembly 11 according to the invention, an easy changing of the fluidcell 2 and/or an easy changing of the fluid even from the furthercomponent 10 or the first fluid reservoir 4 is possible even for alayperson.

All components, i.e. the pump 5, the control device 6 as well as theconnections 3, 7 and 9 are accommodated in the docking station 1 in aninstallation space-optimised manner, as a result of which these and,accompanied by this, the entire assembly 11 has a significantly reducedinstallation space requirement, which is a major advantage in particularin the case of motor vehicles 12, stationary engines, boat drives and/orriding lawn mowers 13.

1. A docking station for a fluid cell, comprising: at least one firstconnection for fluid exchange with the fluid cell, least one secondconnection for fluid exchange with a first fluid reservoir, a pump forconveying a fluid, a control device for controlling at least one of thepump and a valve device on at least one of the at least one firstconnection and the at least one second connection, and an electricalconnection for a power supply of at least one of the control device andthe pump.
 2. The docking station according to claim 1, furthercomprising a filter element for filtering the fluid, the filter elementbeing configured as a filter cartridge.
 3. The docking station accordingto claim 1, further comprising a second fluid reservoir.
 4. The dockingstation according to claim 1, wherein: the fluid is oil, and the fluidreservoir is an oil pan.
 5. The docking station according to claim 1,wherein the control device includes at least two buttons/keys foractivating a respective routine.
 6. The docking station according toclaim 5, wherein at least one of: a first routine associated with afirst of the at least two buttons/keys is a filling of the fluid cellwith fluid out of the fluid reservoir, and a second routine associatedwith a second of the at least two buttons/keys is an emptying of thefluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the fluid reservoir.
 7. Thedocking station according to claim 1, further comprising at least onethird connection for fluid exchange with a further component.
 8. Thedocking station according to claim 7, wherein the further component is afilter device of an internal combustion engine.
 9. An assembly for aninternal combustion engine, comprising: a docking station; a fluid cellconnected with the docking station in a fluid-transferring manner; thedocking station including: at least one first connection for fluidexchange with the fluid cell; at least one second connection for fluidexchange with a fluid reservoir; a pump for conveying a fluid; a controldevice for controlling at least one of the pump and a valve device on atleast one of the at least one first connection and the at least onesecond connection; and an electrical connection for a power supply of atleast one of the control device and the pump.
 10. A vehicle, comprising:an assembly including a docking station and a fluid cell connected withthe docking station in a fluid-transferring manner; the docking stationincluding: at least one first connection for fluid exchange with thefluid cell; at least one second connection for fluid exchange with afluid reservoir; a pump for conveying a fluid; a control device forcontrolling at least one of the pump and a valve device on at least oneof the at least one first connection and the at least one secondconnection; and an electrical connection for a power supply of at leastone of the control device and the pump.
 11. The vehicle according toclaim 10, wherein the fluid cell includes a filter element for filteringthe fluid, and wherein the filter element is a filter cartridge.
 12. Thevehicle according to claim 10, wherein the fluid cell includes a secondfluid reservoir.
 13. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein thecontrol device includes at least two buttons/keys for activating a firstroutine and a second routine, respectively; and wherein the firstroutine is a filling of the fluid cell with fluid out of the fluidreservoir, and the second routine is an emptying of the fluid cell andconveying of the fluid into the fluid reservoir.
 14. The assemblyaccording to claim 9, wherein the fluid cell includes a filter elementfor filtering the fluid, and wherein the filter element is a filtercartridge.
 15. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the fluid cellincludes a second fluid reservoir.
 16. The assembly according to claim9, wherein the fluid is oil, and the fluid reservoir is an oil pan. 17.The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the control device includesat least two buttons/keys for activating a respective routine.
 18. Theassembly according to claim 17, wherein at least one of: a first routineassociated with a first of the at least two buttons/keys is a filling ofthe fluid cell with fluid out of the fluid reservoir; and a secondroutine associated with a second of the at least two buttons/keys is anemptying of the fluid cell and conveying of the fluid into the fluidreservoir.
 19. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein the dockingstation further includes at least one third connection for fluidexchange with a further component.
 20. The assembly according to claim19, wherein the further component is a filter device.